Almost £218,000 raised in "crisis" appeal for Wiltshire charities
Second appeal launched to keep charities and community groups running this winter
Last updated 29th Nov 2022
A second urgent appeal has been launched to support charities, community groups and residents in Wiltshire who are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.
It follows the 'Poverty Huts' appeal which raised a whopping £217,789 in April.
The money has so far gone to fund 29 community groups and charities, including Wiltshire Citizens Advice, Age UK and Warm & Safe Wiltshire, homeless shelters and counselling services, among others.
The money also supported educational bursaries for three young people.
Both appeals are run by Wiltshire Community Foundation who says it's "responding to the increasing hardship being felt by people in the county".
The second appeal will generate vital funds to help grassroots voluntary groups and charities in Wiltshire who are supporting families and individuals in the face of escalating rent, food and energy prices.
Wiltshire Community Foundation Chief Executive, Fiona Oliver, said:
“We are hearing of increased need across the county with food banks running out of food and more and more people unable to afford to eat or heat their homes to a safe level.
“The price of food has risen faster in the last year than at any time since 1980, typical energy bills have doubled, rents and other household costs are escalating.
“This new fund will support projects which are keeping people fed and warm and provide additional practical support and advice to help people cope throughout this period of great hardship.”
Citizens Advice Wiltshire has said it received more enquiries about water and energy debt in the first two weeks of October 2022 than in the whole of October 2021.
Mrs Oliver said the tougher the financial pressures placed on people the more the effects ripple out into other areas of their lives – with poor mental health, low self-esteem, domestic abuse and family breakdown all attributed to increased poverty.
“Young people’s education is also harmed – it is hard to concentrate at school when you are tired, hungry and worried about what is happening at home."
Charities in Wiltshire, including foodbanks, debt advisors, family support and mental health groups, have told the community foundation they have seen a sharp rise in demand for their services in recent months – at a time when their own costs are rising.
“Many of the groups and charities we work with are small and they face the same pressures as the people they seek to help, with energy, rent, fuel and other running costs eating further into their income and leaving them with stark choices about which services they maintain – at the very point when people need them the most,” she said.
Food banks and counselling groups see spike in demand
Salisbury Foodbank has distributed 3,500 food parcels between April and October, a rise on the number they gave out in the same period last year.
“As a foodbank our biggest challenge is ensuring food continues to come in at the rate we issue it out,” said food bank manager Maria Stevenson.
"We, like many other foodbanks have been buying in food to keep our shelves winter ready.”
Counselling and advice group Crosspoint in Westbury says it has received double the number of visitors between July and September than it had between January and March.
It is now setting up a Money Advice Centre in response to the growing calls for debt advice
Wiltshire Community Foundation Chief Executive, Fiona Oliver, said households with lower incomes are less able to cope with rising costs or unexpected expenses because they are less likely to have savings.
“Everyone is facing an extra squeeze on their finances at the moment but any amount donated to the appeal will help some of the amazing groups across Wiltshire and Swindon maintain the support they are giving to families and individuals,” she said.
“Some people have already kindly made a donation of all or part of their Winter Fuel Allowance or Energy Bill Discount as they are in a position not to need all of it and we are able to direct this generosity to where it is needed most. It’s at times like these that Wiltshire and Swindon’s boundless community spirit shines through.”
More information about the appeal and how to donate can be found here.